Introduction to tracert

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Tracert is a command you can use in the Windows command prompt. This page will teach you how to use the command and why it is useful.

How to use tracert

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Here's how you use the tracert command:

1. Open the Windows Command Prompt. (Click the Start menu and choose run. Type "cmd" and press enter)
2. At the command prompt, type "tracert www.example.com" and press enter.
3. The command will run and print output to the screen.

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Reading the Results

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tracert gives five columns of output:

First column

Hop number, this is a sequential number (like 1, 2, 3, etc.) for each step of the tracert process

Second column

I don't know yet.

Third column

I don't know yet.

Fourth column

I don't know yet.

Fifth column

The name or IP address of each computer my tracert command "hits" along the way.

How tracert is Useful

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I haven't figured this out yet.

Conclusion

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I think this is cool.